Regulatory Basics Initiative Reports Available [26 Pa.B. 2361] The Department's Regulatory Basics Initiative (RBI) Reports are now available for public review. The reports include a comprehensive analysis of all of the Department's existing regulations, as well as recommendations for amendments or repeals.
Since August 1995, Department staff have been reviewing its existing regulations to assure that they are no more stringent than standards imposed by Federal law; to minimize costs upon the regulated community; to eliminate requirements which are no longer necessary or redundant; to encourage performance or outcome based requirements; to facilitate the use of new green technologies; to eliminate barriers to recycling and pollution prevention; and to assure information is prepared in clear and concise language. These principles were also outlined by Governor Ridge in Executive Order 1996-1 which requires all agencies to review its existing regulations.
Some examples of regulatory recommendations contained in these reports include reducing the overall volume of reporting forms for municipal and residual waste facilities by 50%; revising liner and leachate treatment system requirements to include performance based standards; adopting an equivalency review procedure for air quality permits to allow facilities to achieve greater reductions using pollution minimization; amending the requirements for testing of particulate matter emissions from stationary sources to be consistent with the Federal requirements; exclude combined sewer overflows from secondary treatment requirements; and revise the noncoal mining regulations to provide a less complex and costly process for noncoal exploration activities.
Copies of these reports have been posted on the DEP World Wide Web Site at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Hot Topics/Regulatory Basics Reports). Copies are also available by contacting the Office of Policy at (717) 783-1303. Please request reports by the following bureau names, depending on your interests: Bureau of Land Recycling and Waste Management, Bureau of Air Quality, Bureau of Radiation Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Management, Bureau of Dams, Waterways and Wetlands, Bureau of Water Supply and Community Health, Bureau of Land and Water Conservation, Bureau of Oil and Gas Management, and Bureau of Mining and Reclamation.
Individuals who submitted comments on the Regulatory Basics Initiative (RBI) during the official public comment period will automatically receive a copy from the Department.
The Department is currently finalizing a comment and response document which will respond to the comments submitted during the RBI comment period. The Department is also developing a schedule for the various rulemaking packages which will result from these reports. The availability of both of these items will be noted in a future update.
The evaluation and recommendations in these reports are intended to stimulate constructive discussion of how Pennsylvania's environmental requirements can be made more effective. The reports do not represent a final recommendation of the Department. Recommendations for changing DEP regulations will be made with the active participation of the public.
JAMES M. SEIF,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-816. Filed for public inspection May 17, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]
